Container for sheetlike material



Jan. 3, 1961 J. LIDGARD 2,967,009

CONTAINER FOR SHEETLIKE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 19, 195? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [own/2o J. L/ac-meo fl M, 644.4 (4.1

ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1961 E. J. LIDGARD CONTAINER FOR SHEETLIKE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 19, 1957 ATTORNEYS E. J. LIDGARD CONTAINER FOR SHEETLIKE MATERIAL Jan. 3, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 19, 1957 INVENTOR. EDWARD J L/DGAED ATTORNEYS m 2,957,009 Patented Jan. 3, 1961 'CUNTAINER FOR SHEETLIKE MATERIAL Edward J. Lidgard, Detroit, Mich., assignor to lflotepalr Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 703,887

12 Claims. (Cl. 229"-14) This invention relates to a container facilitating shipping, handling, and storing of relatively thinsheets of material such as sheets of glass. The invention is especially adapted to use with curved .glasssheets such as Windshields or rear windows of automobiles.

An object of the invention isto provide an inexpensive container structure which can be rapidly assembled, which is simple and convenient to load and unload, and which can be opened for inspection of its contents and reclosed for subsequent handling and storage without substantial damage to the container and without reducing its protective properties.

The invention is carried out generally by providing a number of shock absorbing spacers on the bottom of a paper board container, the spacers having slots for receiving the edge of a sheet of glass, and the shock absorbers having a very simple, effective construction. The spacers are secured to the container bottom by tabs which project through the bottom and are folded over and fastened as with staples. Shock absorbing spacers are similarly attached to the top or lid of the container and these spacers disengage and reengage the upper edge of the glass when the lidis opened and closed. Other advantageous structural features appear in the detailed description. One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings which may be briefly described as follows:

Figure l is a perspective view-of a container according to this invention with a spacer being shown in exploded relation, the container being shown in open condition with a sheet of glass contained therein.

Figure 2 is a smaller scale top plan view of'the container in open condition withv parts shown .in phantom to illustrate structure.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view with parts shown in section and other parts shown in phantom to illustrate structure.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a shock absorbing element used as a spacer within the container.

Figure 5 is a perspective view' ofa-lranger'element with the shock absorbing element of Figure '3 being'sho-wn in and filler structure secured to the container top.

Figure llis aperspective view of a modified form of hanger sheet. I Figure 12 is a perspective view of a shock absorbing block used with-the hanger sheeto'f Figure 1-1.

Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating the hanger sheet and shock absorbing block in assembled relation.

Figure 14 is a perspective view illustrating the modified spacer mounted on the container bottom.

Shown in the drawings is a carton or container 10 preferably formed of a relatively lightweight, inexpensive, protective material such as paper board and having a bottom wall 11, end walls 12, side walls 13, and a top wall preferably formed of an inner member 14 and an outer member 15 which can be swung about creased portions 16 and 17 respectively, for opening and closing the container. Bottom wall 11 has two-spaced apart pairs of slots 18 and inner lid member 14 has similarly spaced pairs of slots 19 as illustrated in Fig. 2. Bottom wall 11 may be formed of inner and outer layers 20 and21 respectively, as shown in Fig. 3.

The container preferably-has inwardly extending end flaps 22 adjacent its bottomand inwardly extending end flaps 23 adjacent its top for a purpose to be described. End flaps 22 and 23 may be scored as illustrated generally at 24 in Fig. 1. The container is adapted to hold a relatively thin sheetlike article such as a curved sheet of glass 25 which may be a windshield for an automobile.

Shock absorbing spacers 28 are provided for securing glass sheet 25 within the container interior. Each spacer or shock absorber includes a body or block 29 of a lightweight inexpensive shock absorbing material such as laminated corrugated paper board and a flexible hanger member 30 which advantageously is also formed of a sheet of paper board. Hanger sheet 30 has a generally central body portion 31 arranged to be wrapped around shock absorber block 29, and for this purpose the hanger body may be provided with score lines 32. Projecting from the hanger sheet body in opposite directions are two tabs 33 which are alsopreferably scored as at 34 (Fig.5).

Block 29 has a slot 36 extending entirely through its width and being angled relatively to its longitudinal extent so that the ends 36a and 36b of the slot are relatively offset longitudinally of the block. In the form of the invention illustrated the slot is symmetrically disposed relative to the center of the face through which it opens. Hanger sheet '30 has an elongate slotlike opening 38 with a central portion 39 angled to the longitudinal extent of the sheet and with end portions 40 which are angled to the central portion and extend generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent of the sheet.

With this arrangement block 29 may be placed on hanger 30 with slot 36 in the block aligned with central portion 39 of the slot in hanger 30 and with longitudinal edges of the block aligned with score lines 32 on the hanger. The hanger may then be folded on score lines 32 so that it is wrapped around three sides of the block with end portions 40 of the sheet slot aligned with ends 36a and 36b of block slot 36. The ends of the aligned slots are offset from each other longitudinallyof the shock absorber or spacer 28 thus formed. In the form of the invention illustrated, two bottom spacers are used and the slots therein have right and left hand relation, being angled in opposite directions relative to a plane passing generally adjacent the medial line 45 of a windshield 25. For this purpose, blocks 29 are provided in sets or pairs having right and left hand slots. A sheet 3b can be used selectively in right and left hand position by reversing it face for face relatively to a block 29 and folding it in oppositedirections on score lines '32. Where sheet slot 39% is longitudinally off center as illustrated the sheet must also be reversed end for end for right and left hand use.

Right and left-hand spacers are "also secured to the top wall or lid of thecontainer so that-their slots'are downwardly disposed for engagement with upper edge portions of windshield 25. A block 29 which is used as a lower right hand block may also be used as an upper left hand block since the upper and lower blocks are inverted relatively to each other. Similarly a lower left block may be used as an upper right block. Thus only one set of left and right hand blocks need be provided. Slots 18 and 19 in the bottom wall and lid member 14 respectively are positioned adjacent the locations where spacers 28 are to be secured.

In use a container and its spacers are assembled and utilized as described below:

First, a right and left-hand pair of spacers is provided by wrapping hanger elements 30 around right and left hand blocks 29 in the manner described and these spacers are mounted in a suitable fixture (not shown) with tab portions 33 projecting upright. The spacers are spaced apart in the fixture a distance corresponding to the spacing of the pairs of openings 18 in the bottom wall of the container. The container is then inverted and lowered over the spacers so that tabs 33 pass through openings 13 in the bottom wall. This position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 6, tabs 33 projecting upwardly through openings 18 as shown in dotted lines. Tabs 33 are then folded down snugly over the bottom surface of the container and are fastened into place by a suitable means such as staples 46. The tabs in this position are shown in solid lines in Fig. 6. Tabs 33 may be folded on any of the score lines 34 provided for that purpose, a plurality of score lines being provided to facilitate folding of the tabs over bottom walls of different thicknesses. This secures spacers 28 to the interior of bottom wall 11.

The container is then removed from over the fixture, the spacers being removed with the container from the fixture. The container is turned upright and flaps 22 adjacent the bottom of the container are folded upon themselves and these flaps are preferably creased or scored to facilitate folding at locations such that the folded flaps can be wedged into engagement against a side of spacers 28 (Fig. 3) to provide lateral stability. Windshield 25 is lowered into the open top of container and its bottom edge portions are inserted into the notches formed by aligned slots 36 and 38 in hanger 3t and block 29.

A stabilizer element 47 formed of such a material as paper board is folded around the bottom edge of glass 25 and secured in position by such means as spring metal clips 48. The purpose of this element is to provide a tight frictional engagement between spacer 28 and the glass and thereby provide stable support for the glass in its upright position. The stabilizer also effectively prevents the glass from shifting in its length direction relatively to the spacers. More is said about this stabilizer below. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one end of spacer 28 preferably abuts against a side wall 13 of the container to provide longitudinal stability.

Upper end flaps 23 are folded upon themselves and swung inwardly over windshield 25. Another right and left hand pair of spacers 28 is now prepared in the manner described, tabs 33 of these spacers are inserted through the pairs of openings on inner lid member lid, and the lid member is swung to closed position so that the notches in the spacers engage the upper edge of windshield 25. This position of the parts is illustrated in Figure 7. Tabs 33 which project upwardly of lid member 14 are now folded over the lid member and are fastened to its exterior by suitable means such as staples 46 as illustrated generally in Fig. 8 to secure the upper spacers to the interior surface of lid member 14. Outer lid member is now folded over lid member 14 and secured in closed position by suitable means. This position of the parts is illustrated generally in Fig. 3 and it will be noted that upper end flaps 23 laterally engage upper spacers 28. The container and its contents are now ready for shipment, storage, or other, handling.

Should it be desired to open the container for inspection of its contents or the like, outer lid member 15 is unfastened and swung back, inner lid member 14 may then be swung back to expose the container contents. When the inner lid member is opened it carries the upper shock absorbers or spacers 28 with it. Windshield 25 may then be removed from the container by merely lifting it upwardly out of engagement from the notches in lower spacers 28. The container may be reused for containing and handling the same windshield or another similar article by simply lowering the article into the container and engaging its lower edge with the notches in the bottom spacers as described. Inner lid 14 may then be swung to closed position and the notches in the upper spacers again engage the upper edge of the windshield. Outer lid 15 may then be swung to closed position and fastened as described. Upper end flaps 23 may be flexed out of the way to facilitate removal and insertion of an article into the container. Thus the container can be opened and closed one or more times with minimal effort, without any substantial damage to the container and without diminishing its protective properties.

Spacers 18 and fillers 47 cooperate to securely hold an article against shifting in its length direction within the container and all parts of the article are suspended in spaced relation from the side Walls of the container to afford maximum protection for the article. The oppositely angled notches in the spacers tend to resist lengthwise shifting of the article. Engagement of the ends of the spacers against side walls 13 of the container provides longitudinal stability for the spacers which strengthens the support provided by attachment of the hanger tabs to the bottom and top walls and the lateral support offered by engagement of flaps 22 and 23 with the sides of the spacers. The only connection between the article and the walls of the container is through spacers 28 and the resilient shock absorbing character of blocks 29 protects the edges of the article from blows against the container walls.

Curved sheets of glass such as Windshields or rear windows of different makes or styles of automobiles have curvatures which fall within a determinable range of curvature. The slots in the spacers or shock absorbers can be disposed at a predetermined angle and can be given a predetermined width dimension so that identical spacers can be used to accommodate a wide variety of Windshields or the like. Moreover, since blocks 29 and hangers 30 are formed preferably of a relatively easily distortable or resilient material, the walls of the notches in the spacers can be relatively easily distorted if necessary to receive an edgeof a windshield. This is done by merely forcibly pushing the edge of the article into the slots.

All steps involved in assembling the spacers or shock absorbers to the container interior are accomplished at the exterior of the container so that the assembly procedure is rapid and simple.

Figure 9 illustrates the use of a filler 50 supplementary to an upper spacer 28 in connection with a sheet of glass 25 which is relatively narrow. Filler 50 is preferably formed of a lightweight inexpensive material such as paper board and preferably comprises one or more stacked strips 51, the number depending on the desired thickness of filler 50. Strips 51 advantageously comprise successive runs of a single relatively long strip folded upon itself. In use, spacer 28 is engaged with the top edge of glass 25 as described and inner lid member 14 is swung closed with its slots 19 passing over upstanding tabs 33.

Filler '50 is inserted between inner lid 14 and the top of spacer 28 except for top strip 51a which is placed over the upper face of inner lid 14 and inserted between tabs 33. Filler 50 is properly longitudinally positioned with respect to spacer 28 by engagement of fold 52 with the side edge of inner lid 14. Tabs 33 are folded down so that they overlap each other and overlap strip 51a. Tabs 33 and strip 510 are stapled to lid 14 as at 53 (Fig.

Regardless of whether a filler 50 is used tabs 33 on both the top and bottom spacers may be folded inwardly in the manner illustrated in Fig. 10 instead of outwardly as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8. This is desirable in some cases because tabs 33 overlap each other directly inline with their spacers 28 and thus provide added shock 'absorption between the exterior of the container and the adjacent edge of glass sheet 25. p

The modified form of spacer 60 illustrated in Figs. 11 through 14 is similar to the form described except that flexible sheet 61 has a somewhat different configuration for purposes to be described and shock-absorbing block 62 is shown as being somewhat smaller. Each end of sheet 61 has a central edge portion 63 disposed generally perpendicularly to its longitudinal extent and has flanking edge portions 64 angled equally outwardly in opposite directions to form tapering projections 65 each having a flattened end 66 and having a base 67 lying on a line which extends across the base of a tab 33. A flap 68 extends away from one shoulder 67 generally parallel to one tab 33 and has an enlarged head portion 69 at its end. An opening 70 is provided in the projection 65 opposite from tab 66.

Shock-absorbing block 62 has an angled slot 71 in one face with ends 71a and 71b opening through opposite sides of the block. To assemble a spacer 60, block.62 is placed on sheet 61 with slot 71 in the block aligned with central portion 39 of the slot 38 in the sheet. Sheet 61 is then folded around the sides of block '62 (Fig. l3) so that the ends 40 of sheet s'.ot 38 register with the ends of the block slot. Flap 68 is folded down so that it bridges the space between adjacent projections 65 and is folded around the shoulder 67 of the distal projection. Head 69 is then forced through hole '70. Head 69 is larger than hole 70 but its flexible paperboard construction facilitates deforming the head so that it can be passed through the hole. The head is then spread out to secure tab 68 in place. This holds sheet 61 and block 62 together to facilitate their handling prior to and during installation on a wall of container 10.

A spacer 60 is installed on a container wall in the same manner as a spacer 28. When a spacer 60 has been secured to bottom wall 11 (Fig. 14), flat end portions 66 of tapering projections 65 engage against side wall 13 of the container. Edge portions 64 slope away from and are out of engagement with the container wall. When a blow is struck against the exterior of side wall '13, projections 65 will tend to crumple relatively easily adjacent their outer ends 66 but with gradually increasing resistance because of their taperingly increasing heights. Consequently projections 65 provide excellent shock absorbing properties.

The structure and functioning of stabilizer element 47 is disclosed in detail in my co-pending app'ication Serial Number 688,073 filed October 3, 1957, and entitled, Container for a Plurality of Sheets of Glass or the Like, now Patent No. 2,919,022. That application discloses a conta ner in which a number of curved gl"ss sheets having difierent lengths. curvatures, and conformations may be shipped in a bulk shipment. Stabilizer elements 47 are used for securing the glass sheets in the bulk shipment container disclosed in that application. The present stabilizer elements 47 are identical to those used in the said bulk shipment container. In fact, a sheet of glass having stabilizer elements 47 secured thereto may be removed from the bulk container and together with its attached stabilizer elements inserted in the single article ctmtainer disclosed in the present application. It is intended that a sheet of glass having stabilizer elements 47 secured thereto will be interchangeably insertable in either the bulk container of my co-pending application or the single article container of this application.

,porting relation around a portion thereof, said hanger element having tab portions extending to and being secured to the exterior of a wall portion of the container so as to secure said shock absorbing element to the container interior, said elements having aligned openings forming a notch in said shock absorber means presented to the container interior to receive an edge portion of an article with which said container is adapted to be used.

2. The container defined in claim 1 wherein certain of the container walls have flap means which project to the container interior, said flap means engaging a side of said shock absorber means which extends away from said wall portion to provide at least partial support for said shock absorber means.

3. A container for a curved sheet of glass or the like wherein the curvature of spaced apart portions of the sheet falls within a predetermined range of curvature, said container comprising, means forming a plurality of container walls, a plurality of shock absorbers each of which includes a shock absorbing element and a hanger element Wrapped in supporting relation around a portion thereof, each hanger element having tab portions extending to and being secured to the exterior of a wall portion of the container so as to secure said shock absorbers to the interior of the container at spaced apart locations, said elements of each shock absorber having aligned openings forming a notch in said shock absorber presented to the interior of the container, said notches being disposed at angles for receiving curved edges of a sheet of glass or the like, the portions of said shock absorbing elements defining said openings therein being deformable and said openings therein being so dimensioned and disposed that said openings may receive edge portions of glass sheets or the like having dilferent curvatures within the said predetermined range of curvature, whereby said container is adapted to hold sheets of glass or the like of different shapes.

4. A container for a sheet of glass or the like which is curved between its ends generally symmetrically to its medial plane, said container comprising, means forming a plurality of container walls, a plurality of shock absorbers each of which includes a body of shock absorbing material and a sheet of flexible material, said body of shock absorbing material having a slot in one side angled to its longitudinal extent, said sheet of flexible material having a slot therein with a central portion angled to the longitudinal extent of said sheet, the end portions of said slot in said sheet extending more nearly perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of said sheet than said central portion thereof, said sheet being wrapped in supporting relation around a portion of said body of shock absorbing material with the slots in said sheet and body aligned and with the end portions of the aligned slots being longitudinally oflset from each other, said sheet having tab portions extending away from said body of shock absorbing material, said tab portions extending to and being secured to the exterior of wall portions of the container so as to secure said shock absorbers to the interior of a common wall of the container, said shock absorbers being spaced generally equidistant in opposite directions from the position of the medial plane of a sheet of glass placed within the container, said slots in the shock absorbers being angled generally equally but in opposite directions relatively to said position, whereby to receive spaced apart portions of the edge of the glass.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein there is a right and left hand pair of said bodies of shock absorbing material whose slots are oppositely angled as described, said sheets of flexible material being selectively flexible in opposite directions when opposite faces thereof are engaged with one of said bodies to facilitate utilization of said sheets selectively to provide shock absorbers having right and left hand relation to each other.

6. A container for a relatively thin article such as a sheet of glass comprising, means forming a plurality of container walls including a bottom Wall and side walls, said bottom wall having a plurality of openings therein, a plurality of shock absorbers each of which includes a shock absorbing element and a hanger element wrapped in supporting relation around a portion thereof, said hanger element having tab portions, the tab portions of each hanger element extending through said openings in said bottom wall and being secured to the exterior thereof so as to secure said shock absorbers to the interior of said bottom wall, whereby to facilitate assembly of said shock absorbers within said container by inverting said container over said shock absorbers and passing said openings in said bottom Wall over said tabs when the latter are in upstanding position, said elements of each shock absorber having aligned openings forming notches presented to the container interior, Said notches being disposed in a predetermined manner relatively to each other for receiving different portions of the article with which said container is adapted to be used.

7. A container for a relatively thin article such as a sheet of glass comprising, means forming a top wall and a bottom wall interconnected by side Walls, said bottom Wall having a plurality of openings therein, said top wall including an inner layer and an outer layer, said inner layer having a plurality of openings therein, a plurality of shock absorbers each of which includes a shock absorbing element and a hanger element wrapped around a portion thereof, said hanger element having tab portions, the tab portions of some of said shock absorbers extending through said openings in said bottom wall and being secured to the exterior of said bottom wall, whereby to facilitate assembly of said shock absorbers within said container by inverting said container over said shock absorbers and passing said openings in said bottom wall over said tab portions when the latter are in upstanding position, said tab portions of the hanger elements of other shock absorbers extending through said openings in said inner layer of said top wall and being secured to the exterior of said inner layer so as to secure other shock absorbers to the interior of said inner layer of said top wall, said elements of each shock absorber having aligned openings forming notches presented to the container interior, said notches being disposed in a predetermined manner relatively to each other for receiving different edge portions of the article, said layers of said top wall being swingable relatively to the other walls for opening and closing said container, the notches in the shock absorbers secured to the inner layer of the top Wall being disengageable and reengageable with the edge portions of the article upon opening and closing said container.

8. A container for a relatively thin article such as a sheet of glass comprising, means forming a plurality of container walls and a shock-absorbing structure which includes a body of shock-absorbing material and a hanger, said hanger having a portion extending to and being secured to the exterior of a wall portion of the container so as to secure said body of material to the interior of said wall portion, said shock-absorbing structure also including means forming a tapering projection having a relatively small outer end, said projection being formed of a shock-absorbing material, said outer end being engaged against the interior of another wall adjacent the wall to which said body of material is secured by said hanger, whereby said tapering projection provides yieldable resistance for absorbing the shock of blows delivered to the exterior of said other Wall, said shock absorber structure including notch means presented to the container interior and adapted to receive an edge portion of a sheet of glass with which said container is adapted to be used.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said tapering projection forms a portion of said hanger.

10. A container for a relatively thin article such as a sheet of glass comprising, means forming a plurality of container walls and a shock-absorbing structure which includes a body of shock-absorbing material and a hanger, said hanger being formed of a sheet of relatively flexible shock-absorbing material such as paperboard or the like, said sheet being wrapped around said body of material and having flap portions which extend to and are secured to the exterior of a wall portion of the container so as to secure said body of material to the interior of said wall portion, portions of said hanger engaging opposite sides of said body of material extending beyond an end of said body and forming tapering projections having relatively small outer ends, said ends engaging the interior of another wall adjacent the wall to which said body of material is secured by said hanger so that said projections provide deformable shock-absorbing elements for absorbing the force of blows delivered to the exterior of said other wall, said shock absorber structure including notch means presented to the container interior and adapted to receive an edge portion of a sheet of glass with which said container is adapted to be used.

11. A container for a relatively thin article such as a sheet of glass comprising, means forming a top wall and a bottom wall interconnected by side walls, said top wall being movable relatively to the other walls for opening and closing said container, means on the interior of said bottom wall adapted to receive a sheet of glass or the like disposed in said container, a shock absorber structure adapted to engage the top edge of a sheet of glass or the like disposed in said container, said shock absorber structure including means forming a body of shock-absorbing material, said body of material including a strip of material having a free end, said shock absorber structure also including spaced means projecting from said body of material to the exterior of said top wall, said strip passing around an edge of said top wall and being disposed between said projecting means, said projecting means being secured to said strip and said top wall whereby to secure said shock absorber structure to said top wall for moving with said top wall and for engaging and disengaging the top edge of a sheet of glass or the like disposed in said container, then said top wall is moved for opening and closing said container.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein said body of material includes an elongate sheet of shockabsorbing material folded on itself, said strip comprising a terminal run of said folded sheet.

Cortright Apr. 10, 1956 Antwerpen Nov. 12, 1957 

